A Night at the Library breaks the rules

El Dorado Hills Library volunteers are breaking all the rules for one night.

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Guests at the first A Night at the Library fundraiser can ignore those “no food or drink in the library” signs and won’t hear a “shhh” from anyone behind the check-out counter.

The El Dorado Hills Friends of the Library event on Sunday, Nov. 17, will feature appetizers from more than a dozen local eateries, wines from six area wineries and live music in nearly every corner — from hits performed by Island of Black and White and The Jazz Report to acoustic music played by harpist Alaina Rose, violinist Lindsey Draper and guitarists Grant Pustelnik and Adam Miller.

They might also hear an occasional “off with her head!” from the The Red Queen who, among other literary characters and greats, is scheduled to make an appearance.

The majority of the friends’ money donated back to the El Dorado Hills Library comes from monthly book sales but Friends of the Library President Ruth Self said this year the volunteers wanted to add “a social get-together.”

So they tossed out the library rule book and invited 300 book lovers to attend. In addition to the food and entertainment, A Night at the Library includes an auction featuring donated works by local artists Sandy Allie, Lynn Anderson, Joey Cattone, Paul Cockrell, Crista Dixon and Varya McMillan. Another auction item offers dinner for 46 at an El Dorado Hills fire station.

The El Dorado Hills Friends of the Library recently donated $40,000 to purchase children’s books and enhance/sustain youth programs. Funds raised at A Night at the Library will go toward adult programs and books.

“The library is like a community living room,” Self explained. “(Patrons) come on over, sit by the fire and read the newspaper.”

During the 2012-13 fiscal year El Dorado Hills Library patrons checked out 213,465 books and some are quite “well-used,” noted friends volunteer Sharon Booth, who repairs books when possible. She’s one of dozens of volunteers (they log about 2,000 hours each year) who donate their time to the library. More that 120,200 visited the El Dorado Hills Library in that year (the most of any library in El Dorado County) and more than 7,100 visitors used the computers.

Only 300 tickets will be available for A Night at the Library at the El Dorado Hills Library, 7455 Silva Valley Parkway. The event runs from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17. Tickets are $30 for Friends of the Library members and $35 for non-members. Purchase them at Face in a Book at El Dorado Hills Town Center, as well as the libraries in El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park and Placerville.

For more information about A Night and the Library and other library events call 916-358-3500 or visit eldoradolibrary.org.